COVENTRY is rapidly developing a centre of engineering excellence, which is making its mark internationally.

That's the view of bosses at Ultraseal International, a castings and impregnation systems firm which runs subsidiaries across the world.

It is based at a group of three factories in Ford Street, just outside the city centre.

Plasticraft, a metal finishing firm, has just relocated to the site from Cannock.

Ninety people work at the site, which is owned by Norman Hay plc.

Ken Southwell, Ultraseal's sales and marketing manager, a former Caludon Castle pupil who studied at Lanchester Polytechnic before becoming an apprentice in the city's world famous machine tools firm, Matrix, said: "I've got very close ties to the city and am extremely proud that this facility is developing such a name for itself.

"Nobody else in the UK does what we do, and because we are a hi-tech firm in a niche market we have been able to expand even though the manufacturing industry in Coventry and across the country has been in decline.

"We do take a bit of a hit each time firms like MG Rover, Peugeot and Jaguar reduce production in this region, but now we rely on exports for 90 per cent of our sales, partly because we have lost 80 per cent of our home market."

Ultraseal makes machines used to seal porous castings, and are typically used to build air-conditioning units.

The firm, which employs 50 people, also sells the sealant used in the machines, and its customers include blue chip companies like Rolls-Royce, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

Mr Southwell said: "We have a real presence in China and India and the HQ is here in Coventry.

"Ultraseal has a turnover of £7.5 million, which is not at all bad for a firm of 50 workers.

"And the great thing about Plasticraft relocating here is that now we are developing a centre of excellence which puts us on an extremely firm footing for the future."

Will Green, sales director for Plasticraft, said: "Although we have only been based in Coventry for four weeks we are delighted about how things are going."